Folding beach chair



March 21, 1944.

R, H. RALSTON FOLDING BEACH OiIAIR Filed May 1a, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fldzmzon/ INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY? March 21, 1944. R: RALSTON 2,344,729

' FOLDING amen 01mm Fileq May 18, 1943 I 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 V JLERaZaZnra IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY-5' Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 18, 1943, Serial No. 487,500

Claims.

This invention relates to camp or beach chairs of the folding type, and more particularly to folding chairs having foldable foot-rests.

An important object of the invention is to provide a chair of this character, wherein the foot-rest provides means whereby the person using the chair, may adjust the seat and back of the chair to a preferred angle, by movement. of the foot-rest by the feet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chair having a pivoted foot-rest, which is connected to the handles and chair legs, in such a way that when the chair is in a substantially upright position, the forward end of the foot-rest will engage the ground surface, and provide a brace for the chair to prevent the chair from moving forwardly too far,

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a beach chair constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating the chair in a slightly reclined position.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the chair illustrating the position of the foot-rest, when 3 the chair is in an upright position.

Figure 4 is a view illustrating the chair as folded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the base of the chair, which is indicated generally by the reference character 5. is rectangular in formation, and includes side bars 6 which are connected at their rear end by the transverse bar I. Bars 8 are pivotally connected to the forward ends of the side bars 6, at 9, the bars B being substantially long. and constitute the front legs and back section of the chair. A connecting bar indicated at I0 connects the lower front ends of the bars 8 and holds the lower front ends of the bars 8 in proper spaced relation with respect to each other, while the upper ends of the bars 8 are held spaced apart by means of the bar Ii secured to the upper front edges of the bars 8, as clearly shown by Fig. l of the drawings.

The handles of the chair, are indicated by the reference character i2 and are substantially wide, as shown by Fig. l, the handles having their rear ends pivotally connected to the bars 8, at I3, the forward ends of the handles i2 being held in proper spaced relation with respect to each other, by means of the transverse bar M.

The bars I5, which are pivotally connected with the handles i2, at points in spaced relation with the forward end thereof, constitute the rear legs of the chair and have their lower ends connected with the side bars 6 through the pins IB that extend inwardly from the bars l5, and rest in the slots I! which extend longitudinally of the bars 8. As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bars l5, cross the bars 8, and the lower ends of the bars l5 are permitted to slide throughout the length of the slots H, to compensate for the increased or reduced movement of the upper ends of the bars l5, when the bars 15 are being swung to either their open or closed positions.

The reference character [8 indicates a length of canvas which has its forward end wrapped around the transverse bar I4 and secured thereto, while the upper end of the strip of canvas is wrapped around the bar II and secured. This strip of canvas provides the seat and back section of the chair and will adjust itself to the weight of the person using the chair.

The foot-rest is also rectangular in formation and comprises the side bars i9 that have pivotal connection with the bars 8, at 20, the pivot point between the bars I9 and B, being at points in spaced relation with the lower extremities of the bars 8, as shown by Fig. 1, to the end that when the chair is in an upright position, the forward or free ends of the bars i9, will engage the ground surface on which the chair is positioned, and prevent forward movement of the bars 19, should the weight of the person occupying the chair tend to move the chair too far forwardly.

Cross-bars 2| connect the forward ends of the side bars I9 and provide a rest for the feet of the person using the chair.

Connecting bars 22 have pivotal connection with the bars l9 at points in spaced relation with the outer ends thereof, and also have pivotal connection with the forward extremities of the handles 12, so that movement of the foot-rest will result in a relative movement of the arms, back and legs of the chair, when pressure is directed to the foot-rest or relieved therefrom, by the person using the chair, in making the preferred adjustment for use.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a chair which may be readily folded into a small and compact article, and which when extended for use, may be adjusted by the person using the chair, by the person operating his seat to direct pressure on the foot-rest or relieve pressure therefrom.

When it is desired to fold the chair it is only necessary to swing the bars 8 downwardly into parallel relation with the base of the frame, and then swing the foot-rest upwardly and over the upper edges of the bars 8. The chair will now assume the position as shown by Fig. 4 so that it may be stored and handled with facility.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding chair, a base embodying side bars having elongated openings formed therein, leg members having pins movable within the elongated openings, substantially long leg members pivotally connected with the forward ends of the side bars, said substantially long leg members adapted to cross the first mentioned leg members and provide the back of the chair, arms pivotally connected with the substantially long leg members, the first mentioned leg members being pivotally connected to the arms, a footrest comprising upper bars connected with said arms and lower bars pivotally connected with the substantially long leg members at points above the foot-rest, and a length of fabric material secured to the frame providing a seat and back section.

2. In a folding chair, a base, a pair of substantially long bars extending upwardly from the base and having pivotal connection with theforward end of the base, a pair of bars pivotally connected with the base and extending forwardly, crossing the first mentioned bars, handles connecting the bars, a pivoted foot-rest comprising bars pivotally connected with the first mentioned bars, and a pair of bars connected with the last mentioned bars and extending to the forward extremities of the arms where they are pivotally connected thereto, and a length of fabric material supported by the bars and providing a seat and back portion.

3. In a folding chair, a base comprising spaced parallel bars having elongated openings, substantially long front leg members pivotally connected with the forward ends of the bars, rear leg members, pivot pins extending from th rear leg members and being siidably mounted within the elongated openings, arms pivotally connected to the front leg members, said rear leg members being pivotally connected with said arms at points spaced fromthe front ends of the arms, a footrest comprising bars pivotally connected with the front leg members at a point in spaced relation with the lower ends thereof, and pivoted bars connecting the latter bars to the forward ends of the handles, and a length of fabric material supported between the leg members and providing the seat and back of the chair.

4. In a folding chair, a base, rearwardly in clined leg members pivotally connected with the forward end of the base, forwardly inclined leg members pivotally and slidably connected with the base, chair arms pivotally connected with the rearwardly inclined leg members and being pivotally connected with the upper ends of the forwardly inclined leg members, a foot-rest embodying upper and lower pairs of bars pivotally connected at their forward ends, said lower pair of bars being pivotally connected with the rearwardiy inclined leg members, the inner ends of the bars of the upper pair being pivotally c0nnected with the forward ends of the chair arms. and a length of fabric material forming the seat and back of the chair.

5. In a folding chair, a base, rearwardly inclined substantially long leg members pivotally connected with the forward end of the base, forwardly inclined leg members pivotally and slidably connected with the base and adapted to cross the first mentioned leg members, chair arms,

the rear ends of the chair arms being pivotally connected to the rearwardly inclined leg members, the forward ends of the forwardly inclined leg members being connected to the chair arms at points in spaced relation with the front ends of the chair arms, a foot-rest embodying an upper pair of bars pivotally connected to the forward extremities of the chair arms, and a pair of lower bars pivotally connected with the upper pair of bars, the lower bars being pivotally connected with the rearwardly inclined leg members at points above the point of connection between the rearwardly inclined leg members and base, and a length of fabric material providing the seat and back of the chair.

RAYMOND H. RALSTON. 

